Liquid dispenser



July W, I951 N. s. WATERMAN LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Sept. 29, 1949 v A v INVENTOR fi f/l 5. M/flTEE/M/V Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID I JZZ I ENSER "Neils. Waterman, Tarrytown, N. Y.

Application September 29, 1949', Serial No. 118 486 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in liquid dispensers.

This invention proposes the construction of a new liquid dispenser which lends itself to be constructed from several simple rigid type plastic material parts, except for one leaf spring, and which is adapted to receive a bottle of liquid in an inverted condition and todispense this liquid as desired.

More particularly,,it is proposed to characterize the new liquid dispenser bythe fact'that it includes an open top container having downwardly and inwardly sloping sides forming a small Well portion for the liquid at the bottom. It is proposed that this container be provided with means by which it may easily be mounted upon a wall or other object. Said open top container is provided with means for supporting an inverted bottle of liquid in position with the neck of the bottle positioned a short distance above said well portion so as to keep the well supplied with the liquid as long as the bottle contains any of the liquid.

Still further it is proposed that said open top container be provided with a small aperture in one of the sloping sides located in said well portion for the discharge of the liquid. A new and novel operator arm is mounted in a certain Way within said open top container and is provided with a valve controlling said aperture. The leaf spring engages the back of this arm for urging the valve into its closed position. The open top container is also provided with a cover so that the inverted bottle may be fully encased.

Another object 'of the invention is the construction of a liquid dispenser as described which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further. comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a liquidv dispenser constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is aside elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken onthe'line 3- -3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig; 3.

Fig; 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

6 Claims. (Cl. ZZZ-+517) Fig. 6 is a fragmetary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a front view of the arm with the valve which is used in the liquid dispenser.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top portion of the leaf spring which is used in "he liquid dispenser. V

The liquid dispenser, in accordance with this invention, includes an open top container l 0 preferably constructed of rigid type plastic material and having downwardly and inwardly slopin sides ll forming a small well portion I! for liquid at the bottom of the container Ill. Said container I0 is provided with'me'ans' for supporting an inverted bottle of liquid withits neck positioned a short distance above said "well portion I2. This means comprises a'pair ofvertically directed horizontally spaced lug portions H. These lu portions are of 'T-shape in plan: view (see particularly Fig; 4). The dot and dash lines 15 in Fig. 3 schematically indicate the neck portion of a bottle and illustrate the manner in which the bottle is supported in an inverted posi-- tion upon thelugs- M. The well I2 is illustrated as filled with liquid up tothe bottom edge of the neck bf .thebottle.

One of the sloping sides II has a small aper ture 'IB locatedin said well portion l2 for the discharge of said liquid. A short distance above this aperture is there is an opening 11 located above the well portion l2. A pair of horizontally spaced verticaltracks I9 (see Figs. 5 and 6) extend upwards along the sides of the opening I! and terminate at the top edge of the container H). An operator arm 20 is 'pivotally mounted on the bottom ends of the tracks [9, and extends downwards and is provided with a press projection 2| engaging through said opening I'I. This arm 2l3is also provided with a valve 22 engaging into said aperture I 6 for closing said aperture from passage of said liquid. A leaf spring 24 having an enlarged top portion 25 is firmly mounted upon said tracks l9 and extends downwards against said arm 20 for holding said valve 22 closed.

The tracks. 19 include a pair of horizontally spaced vertical flanges 26, and ribs 2'! on-theinner faces of said flanges 26 spaced slightly from the inner face of said sloping side H to form grooves 28 for receiving and holding said enlarged top portion 25 of the leaf spring 24. The ribs 21 have their faces 29 which are adjacent said sloping side I i, inclined (see Fig. 3) in order that saidgrooves ZBnarrow towards their bot toms for firmly clamping said enlarged top portion of said leaf spring 25 in position. The leaf spring 24 has a pressed out rib extending completely along its length for stiffening and reinforcing it. The enlarged top portionZE is Slightly parated from the remaining portion of the leaf spring 24 with slits 3| in order to facilitate bendin of the enlarged top portion 25 into position.

When the enlarged top portion 25 of the leaf spring 24 is slipped downwards into the grooves 28 it will become jammed against the inner face of the sloping side ll, while the leaf Spring 24 extends downwards and in an inclined direction along the length of the arm 20. The arm 20 is formed with a top trunnion 33 which engages the bottom of the grooves 28 and by which said arm 28 is pivotally mounted on the bottom ends of the tracks iii. The arm 20 may pivot inwards and outwards, using the trunnion 33 as a pivot. The inner face of the arm 20 is formed with a recess 34 extending its complete length into which the spring 24 engages so as to be firmly connected with the arm.

The projecting portion 2| of the arm 20 is imprinted with the word press (see Fig. 1), for indicating that the user should press this portion inwards. The valve 22 and the aperture it are of frusto-conical shape for eliminating possible leakage. The container I0 is also provided with a cover 38 adapted to cover the top portion of the inverted bottle within the dispenser. The cover 36 and the container ill have the inner faces of their walls formed with vertically extending ribs 3'! (see particularly Fig. 5). These ribs 31 act as guides for the sidesof said bottle, The cover 36 is provided at its front and back with downwardly projecting lugs 38 and 39. The lug 38 engages in the top portions of the grooves 28, while the lug 39 engages in a recess 40 formed inwards from the top of the container Ill.

The top portion 25 of the Spring 24 is jammed into position in the grooves 28 and serves to engage the top edge portion of the arm 20 for looking the arm 20 in position so that it is merely free to pivot upon the trunnion 33, but is limited from moving upwards on the tracks l9. The container I0 is provided with means by which it may be attached to a wall. This means is in the form of an enlarged back portion 42 formed with a vertical groove 43 adapted to receive a complementary wall plate 44 which may be attached to a wall with screws 65. This wall plate 44 and groove 43 have sloping sides. 46 (see Fig. 1). These sloping sides 46 are beveled, indicated by the double sloping sides 46 in Fig. 1. With this construction the wall plate M may be attached to a wall and the container IE! may be engaged on the wall plate by merely slipping it downwards so that the wall plate 44 engages the groove 43. The narrow end of the wall plate 4 3 and the groove 43, is at the top.

The operation of the device may be understood from the following:

The cover 36 may he removed and a bottle of liquid to be dispensed may be turned up side down and quickly placed in position on the tops of h lu s 14 so that liquid from the bottle fills the well l2. The press projection 2! may be pressed inwards to pivot the arm 20 inwards so as to open the aperture Hi to permit a suitable quantity of liquid to drip or flow out, as desired. The cover 33, the arm 26, and the wall plate 24 are also preferably made of rigid type plastic material.

An important feature of the invention resides in the construction of the tracks l9 and the manner in which the arm 20 and the leaf spring 24 are associated with said tracks for holding the valve 22 in its closed position. The particular construction shown is one in which the parts are simple and may be easily manufactured and assembled.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a liquid dispenser, an open top container having downwardly and inwardly sloping sides forming a small well portion for liquid at the bottom, means for supporting an inverted bottle of liquid in said container with the neck of said bottle positioned a short distance above said well portion, one of said sloping sides having a small aperture in said well portion for the discharge of said liquid and also having an opening above said well portion, tracks on said last mentioned sloping side positioned above said opening and extending upwards, an arm hanging a top trunnion pivotally mounted upon the bottom ends of said tracks, said arm extending downwards and having a press projection engaging through said opening and also having a valve engaging into said aperture for closing said aperture to the passage of said liquid, and a leaf spring extending downwards against said arm for holding said valve closed, saidleaf spring having an enlarged top portion firmly mounted in said tracks by which said leaf spring is supported and said enlarged top portion of the leaf spring engaging above said top trunnion for holding said arm from moving upwards.

2. In a liquid dispenser, an open top container having downwardly and inwardly sloping sides forming a small well portion for liquid at the bottom, means for supporting an inverted bottle of liquid in said container with the neck of said bottle positioned a short distance above said well portion, one of said sloping sides having a small aperture in said well portion for the discharge of said liquid and also having an opening above said well portion, tracks on said last mentioned sloping side positioned above said opening and extending upwards, an arm having a top trunnion pivotally mounted upon the bottom ends of said tracks, said arm extending downwards and having a press projection engaging through said opening and also having a valve engaging into said aperture for closing said aperture to the passage of said liquid, and a leaf spring extending downwards against said arm for holding said valve closed, said leaf spring having an enlarged top portion firmly mounted in said tracks by which said leaf spring is supported and said enlarged top portion of the leaf spring engaging above said top trunnion for holding said arm from moving upwards, said tracks comprising a pair of horizontally spaced vertical flanges, and ribs on the inner faces of said flanges spaced slightly from the inner face of said sloping side to form grooves for receiving and holding said enlarged top portion of said leaf spring.

3. In a liquid dispenser, an open top container having downwardly and inwardly sloping sides forming a small well portion for liquid at the bottom, means for supporting an inverted bottle of liquid in said container with the neck of said bottle positioned a short distance above said well portion, one of said sloping sides having a small aperture in said well portion for the discharge of said liquid and also having an open= ing above said well portion, tracks on said last mentioned sloping side positioned above said opening and extending upwards, an arm having a top trunnion pivotally mounted upon the bot tom ends of said tracks, said arm extending downwards and having a press projection engaging through said opening and also having a valve engaging into said aperture for closing said aperture to the passage of said liquid, and a leaf spring extending downwards against said arm for holding said valve closed, said leaf spring having an enlarged top portion firmly mounted in said tracks by which said leaf spring is supported and said enlarged top portion of the leaf spring engaging above said top trunnion for holding said arm from moving upwards, said tracks comprising a pair of horizontally spaced vertical flanges, and ribs on the inner faces of said flanges spaced slightly from the inner face of said sloping side to form grooves for receiving and holding said enlarged top portion of said leaf spring, said ribs having their faces adjacent said sloping side inclined in order that said grooves narrow towards their bottoms for firmly clamping said enlarged top portion of said leaf spring in position.

l. In a liquid dispenser, an open top container having downwardly and inwardly sloping sides forming a small well portion for liquid at the bottom, means for supporting an inverted bottle of liquid in said container with the neck of said bottle positioned a short distance above said well portion, one of said sloping sides having a small aperture in said well portion for the discharge of said liquid and also having an opening above said well portion, tracks on said last mentioned sloping side positioned above said opening and extending upwards, an arm having a top trunnion pivotally mounted upon the bottom ends of said tracks, said arm extending downwards and having a press projection engaging through said opening and also having a valve engaging into said aperture for closing said aperture to the passage of said liquid, and a leaf spring extending downwards against said arm for holding said valve closed, said leaf sprin having an enlarged top portion firmly mounted in said tracks by which said leaf spring is supported and said enlarged top portion of the leaf spring engaging above said top trunnion for holding said arm from moving upwards, said tracks comprising a pair of horizontally spaced vertical flanges, and ribs on the inner faces of said flanges spaced slightly from the inner face of said sloping side to form grooves for receiving and holding said enlarged top portion of said leaf spring, said ribs having their faces adjacent said sloping side inclined in order that said grooves narrow towards their bottoms for firmly clamping said enlarged top portion of said leaf spring in position, said enlarged top portion of said leaf spring being slightly separated from said leaf spring with slits in order to facilitate bending of said enlarged top portion into said position.

5. In a liquid dispenser, an open top container having downwardly and inwardly sloping sides forming a small well ortion for liquid at the bottom, means for supporting an inverted bottle of liquid in Said container with the neck of said bottle positioned a short distance above said well portion, one of said sloping sides having a small aperture in said well portion for the discharge of said liquid and also having an opening above said well portion, tracks on said last mentioned sloping side positioned above said opening and extending upwards, an arm having a top trunnion pivotally mounted upon the bottom ends of said tracks, said arm extending downwards and having a press projection engaging through said opening and also having a valve engaging into said aperture for closing said aperture to the passage of said liquid, and a leaf spring extending downwards against said arm for holding said valve closed, said leaf spring having an enlarged top portion firmly mounted in said tracks by which said leaf spring is supported and said enlarged top portion of the leaf spring engaging above said top trunnion for holding said arm from moving upwards, said tracks comprising a pair of horizontally spaced vertical flanges, and ribs on the inner faces of said flanges spaced slightly from the inner face of said sloping side to form grooves for receiving and holding said enlarged top portion of said leaf spring, said top trunnion engaging the bottoms of said grooves by which said arm is pivotally mounted upon the bottom ends of said tracks.

6. In a liquid dispenser, an open top container having downwardly and inwardly sloping sides forming a small well portion for liquid at the bottom, means for supporting an inverted bottle of liquid in said container with the neck of said bottle positioned a short distance above said well portion, one of said sloping sides having a small aperture in said well portion for the discharge of said liquid and also having an opening above said well portion, tracks on said last mentioned sloping side positioned above said opening and extending upwards, an arm having a top trunnion pivotally mounted upon the bottom ends of said tracks, said arm extending downwards and having a press projection engaging through said opening and also having a valve engaging into said aperture for closing said aperture to the passage of said liquid, and a leaf spring extending downwards against said arm for holding said valve closed, said leaf spring having an enlarged top portion firmly mounted in said tracks by which said leaf spring is supported and said enlarged top portion of the leaf spring engaging above said top trunnion for holding said arm from moving upwards, one face of said arm being recessed, and said spring engaging in said recessed face.

NEIL S. WATERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 580,574 Fowler Apr. 13, 1897 1,734,304 Saalbach Nov. 5, 1929 1,886,288 McDow NOV. 1, 1932 1,938,181 Holmes Dec. 5, 1933 

